Monday, March 11, 2019

Pakistan’s Track Record Doesn’t Inspire Hope On Pulwama Probe

Pakistan’s Track Record Doesn’t Inspire Hope On Pulwama Probe

Imran Khan offered to investigate if India provides evidence into the Pulwama terror attack and cracked on terror groups and operatives amid mounting international pressure

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s assurance on investigation into Pulwama terror attack flies in the face as Islamabad’s poor probe track record into the past terror attacks by LeT & JeM do not inspire hope of any strong action against the masterminds of the February 14 terror attack.

Prime minister Imran Khan offered to investigate if India provides evidence into the Pulwama terror attack and cracked on terror groups and operatives amid mounting international pressure. However, there is little hope of any concrete action based on Islamabad’s track record and internal contradictions, sources familiar with the functioning of the Pakistan’s security apparatus told ET.

Khan’s predecessor Nawaz Sharif offered full cooperation in the investigations after January 2016 Pathankot terror strike following evidence provided by the Modi government. But Pakistan’s interior ministry under the influence of Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) refused to act on the evidence, claimed one of the above-mentioned sources. Supply of evidence by India was also acknowledged in the Pakistan senate by the Nawaz Sharif government but investigate agencies did not follow thorough probe and Masood Azhar's brother was set free after arrest following Pathankot attacks, sources recalled.

Speaking in the senate on October 4, 2016, then Pakistan interior minister even acknowledged that the Indian government had provided documents and these included five mobile phone numbers of Pakistani telecom companies, after the Pathankot attacks. These numbers had been mentioned in the FIR lodged in a police station in Gujranwala. A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed and it visited India in March 2016. However, nothing has come out of the investigation so far, said the sources.

The interior ministry under Sharif is understood to have told some Pakistan lawmakers that the Pathankot case was being dealt with by intelligence agencies and was beyond its jurisdiction. The interior ministry under influence of Pakistan’s army has been accused of thwarting United Nation’s moves to impose sanctions on JeM chief.

Earlier in August 2015, in reply to questions in Pak Senate about the resurrection of the banned outfit Jamaat Ud Dawa (JuD), then interior minister stated that it was operating because of a court order which had given it relief. Ironically the minister failed to provide a copy of the court order when asked.